The document provides information for Pascua Yaqui tribal members about the Higher Education Assistance Program (HEAP). It outlines the program's goals of providing post-secondary educational assistance. It details students' responsibilities, including maintaining contact with an Education Assistance Specialist, meeting GPA requirements, and meeting deadlines. It explains funding amounts for community college, undergraduate university, and graduate students. Funding is limited to certain credits per degree. Students who do not meet responsibilities risk probation or suspension from funding. The document encourages contact with the Education Assistance Specialist for any questions.

1. Higher Education
Assistance Program
New Student
Orientation
Pascua Yaqui Tribe

2. Higher Education Assistance
Program Goals
The goal of the program is to provide post-
secondary education assistance to Pascua
Yaqui tribal members. The program goal will
be accomplished by providing supplemental
educational costs to attend an approved post-
secondary institution.

3. Things you need to know
• EAS – Your assigned Education
Assistance Specialist. This is your
contact person for your HEAP
funding.
• HEAP – Higher Education
Assistance Program
• GPA – Is the measured average of
your grades. We will only be
looking at your semester GPA not
your cumulative GPA.
• Undergraduate – students working
on their Associate or Bachelors
degree
• Graduate – students working on
their Masters degree and above
We use a lot of
acronyms so here is a
short list of the most
commonly used
acronyms and their
meanings.

4. Your responsibilities as a student
As outlined in your
signed Student Contract,
failure to comply with
your responsibilities may
result in a loss of
funding.
• Communication
– You must make at least one contact
per month with your EAS. This could be
a phone call, an email or an office visit.
– It is your responsibility to inform your
EAS of any changes to your:
• Schedule
• Plan of Study
• Contact Information
• You MUST identify as American
Indian ethnicity with your
institution

5. Your responsibilities as a student
As outlined in your
signed Student Contract,
failure to comply with
your responsibilities may
result in a loss of
funding.
• Grades
– You must complete all credits funded.
If you received funding for 13 credits,
you must complete 13 credits.
– The classes listed on the schedule that
you submit with your application
should be the grades that appear on
your official transcripts at the end of the
semester.
– You must maintain a 2.5 gpa for
undergraduate students and a 3.0 gpa
for graduate students.

6. Your responsibilities as a student
As outlined in your
signed Student Contract,
failure to comply with
your responsibilities may
result in a loss of
funding.
• Deadlines
– Fall deadline is always the last Friday in
June
– Spring deadline is always the last Friday
in December
• Deadlines are important. There
will be NO EXCEPTIONS to the
HEAP deadlines.
• Please contact your EAS if you
have any questions about deadline
or if are having trouble getting all
of your required documents
together

7. Your responsibilities as a student
As outlined in your
signed Student Contract,
failure to comply with
your responsibilities may
result in a loss of
funding.
• Workshops
– Once each semester, you will be
required to attend one (1) workshop
provided by HEAP. Workshops will be
provided monthly.
• Workshops include topics like:
– Financial Literacy
– Time Management
– Relaxation Techniques
• Workshops will be offered at the
Itom Mahtawapo Education
Building. They will also be
available online for students who
cannot make it to a workshop in
person.

8. Funding is Limited
You are eligible for
funding for one degree
at each progressive level
• You are eligible for funding for:
– 72 credits to obtain your Associate’s
Degree
– 130 credits to obtain your Bachelor’s
Degree (this is inclusive of credits
funded at the Community College
level)
– 36 credits to obtain your Masters
Degree
• Doctoral Degree
– You must meet with the Education
Director and HEAP supervisor to
determine the total number of credits
needed to obtain your Doctoral
Degree.

9. Other things you need to know
• HEAP covers:
• Assistance with tuition and book cost
for HEAP students
• Credits funded must be for classes
applicable to your degree
• Assistance with Graduate Entrance
Exams such as:
• GRE
• LSAT
• MCAT

10. Other things you need to know
• HEAP does NOT cover:
• Repeat courses. HEAP will offer
funding for a class one time only. If
you have to retake the class for
whatever reason, you will be
responsible for the cost of that class
and any materials needed
• Classes for personal interest,
professional development or audit
purposes.
• Summer session classes

11. Funding
• Students may be
eligible for funding
two (2) times per
academic year.
– For classes beginning
in August thru
December
– For classes beginning
in January thru May
• Funding will be
disbursed one (1)
time per funding
period. There will not
be any second
disbursements or
additional funding
granted after the
semester has already
begun.

12. Funding
• Community College
– Full Time students (12 credits
or more) may be eligible to
receive $1,500 per semester
– Part Time students (less than
12 credits) may be eligible for
funding for book & tuition cost
not to exceed $900
• University
Undergraduates
– Full Time students (12 credits
or more) may be eligible to
receive $5,500 per semester
– Part Time students (less than
12 credits) may be eligible for
funding for book & tuition cost
not to exceed $3,300
Funding is subject to change without notice.
Funding is also based on student academic progress
Funding is re-evaluated every semester

13. Funding
• Probation Semester
– Students that fail to meet their responsibilities as
outlined in your signed Student Contract may be
placed on Academic Probation with HEAP.
– Academic Probation means that you will receive
funding in a lesser amount that a Good Standing
student.

14. Funding
• Suspension
– Students that fail to meet their responsibilities as
outlined in your signed Student Contract while on
Probation may be placed on Academic Suspension
with HEAP.
– Academic Suspension means that you will not be
eligible for any assistance until you regain Good
Standing with HEAP

15. Make your EAS your friend
• If you have more
questions or concerns
please contact your
assigned EAS.
• If you need anything
clarified please
contact your assigned
EAS.
• Tucson HEAP office
– Marina Martinez
marina.Martinez@pascuaya
520.883.5056
• Guadalupe HEAP
office
– Vanessa Mori
vanessa.mori@pascuayaqu
480.768.2039

16. YES …. There is a quiz.
Once completed, be sure to include
a screenshot or print out of your
“My Grades” page with your
completed HEAP application.